January

{words for a new year from Hand Lettering Co.}
“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
“Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
“There are far better things ahead than what we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“I’m not afraid of failure, I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” – William Carey

{Joel and Cait came to visit. Jacqueline loved being with S – holding her hand, choosing her clothes, playing with her, holding her… it was great to all be together again}

{love this}

{Sarah was visiting and was a HUGE help, took wonderful photos, and was great company to have for so long}

{celebrating our first anniversary with one of the best meals out-to-eat I’ve ever had – ginger beer, cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms, bacon and pumpkin tortellini with cream sauce, crepe lasagna, and pistachio cherry frozen mousse. But it wasn’t anywhere as good as the last year was. (and all the waiters loved S)}

{James came to visit, and we had dinner and a long walk/hike with friends, then took S to meet her great-grandpa and great aunt. It was a 2 hour car ride and she did so well}

{our little lady finds the world too interesting to take naps without a fight. One day, after trying to get her to sleep for over an hour, I set her on her dry bath sponge like I always do if I have to go to the bathroom. By the time I finished washing my hands, she was asleep}

{we had a birth class reunion and made S’s footprints into a monarch butterfly after she smiled and jabbered with her friend Arya. She loves other babies!}

reading of late// we finished Return of the King and started The Hobbit!

thinking about// the curse brought pain in childbirth, the cross helps us through // a baby can make your relationships shallower if you get lazy but deeper if you’re honest // accomplishments, past and present, are rubbish – Philippians 3:8-9, so it doesn’t matter if my list ever gets anywhere // “There is nothing impressive about us. What is impressive is Christ’s righteousness. [That’s why there are no masks]” – paraphrasing a before communion thought from the pulpit // how serious the sin of indifference is in light of all He’s done